India may not have had an umpire in the ICC elite panel for more than a decade but celebrated Australian Simon Taufel feels officials from the country are close to making the exclusive group again thanks to the Cricket Board's efforts.

Twenty six match officials, including umpires and referees at this season's Indian Premier League will be taking part in a two-day workshop, conducted by Simon Taufel and organised by the BCCI, here on April 4 and 5.

With increasing involvement of third umpire in making correct decisions, the ICC wants to start a uniform programme for all member countries, including India, to develop their communication skills by taking help from the British Council.

ICC Umpire Performance and Training Manager Simon Taufel has said that the current structure of cricket`s Panel of Elite Umpires is in need of urgent review after the fourth Ashes Test at Durham was also hit by controversy surrounding umpiring decisions.

Former Test umpire Simon Taufel has said that technology and reviews have put more pressure on umpires and have created a `double edge` for them, adding that decision-making in the game is tougher now than it was 20 years ago.

Former Test umpire Simon Taufel has called for more countries to produce leading umpires in a bid to boost `succession planning`, although he admitted that the Decision Review System (DRS) is also posing as a problem for decision-makers.

Australian umpire Simon Taufel, who is set to stand in his final international game during tomorrow`s ICC World T20 final, termed the 2011 World Cup semi-final between India versus Pakistan as the "most exciting match" of his career.

Simon Taufel will step down from the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires after the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka, which runs until October 7, to take up the new role of Umpire Performance and Training Manager, the ICC said on Wednesday.

Australian Simon Taufel and Pakistan`s Aleem Dar, who officiated in the World Cup final between India and Sri Lanka last week, were today named among 17 on-field umpires for the fourth edition of the Indian Premier League commencing on Friday at Chennai.